Tag Archives: Technicians

In part two of our Nikon technicians feature we meet the rest of the team who work hard to keep your Nikon kit in top working order.

Sunny

Sungharsh’s career began in Hyderabad, India, where he was trained by Konica-Polaroid and where he worked for around nine years before leaving for the UK and joining Fixation in March 2007.

Nikon flashguns are his main area of expertise, as well as professional cameras and mid and pro-range lenses.

Sunny’s hobbies include watching cricket, designing JavaScript HTML websites and astronomy. He studied the latter at UCL and combines it nicely with his interest in cameras by practising Astro-photography in his spare time.

Tiho

Bulgarian national, Tihomir studied journalism and literature in Veliko Tarnovo before working as a radio station DJ whilst at the same time running his own photography studio and portrait business. He later set up his own business repairing electronic equipment such as film projectors and has worked in a digital photo lab.

Tiho joined Fixation in March 2016 and repairs mainly Nikon semi-pro bodies such as the D300 and D600 series, as well as flashguns and some lenses. He may have quite a giggle, but this belies a penchant for serious literature of the classic Russian type, in particular Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

Pabita

Pabita may be petite, but she’s a powerhouse when it comes to repairs. She studied electronics and engineering at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal, before joining Nepal Television Corporation as an operation technician using Sony video cameras and monitors in the studio, later making the switch to repairs. She began by repairing large, heavy-duty products, later adding more conventional consumer products to her repertoire. She joined Fixation in April 2007 and these days specialises in expiring Nikon pro bodies such as the D700 and D800 series. Pabita’s free-time revolves around her young family, but she also enjoys reality shows such as Strictly and Bake-Off. Her ideal dinner party guests include a feisty American comedienne and two British Prime ministers. It might result in some lively conversations, but one thing we’re sure they’d agree on is the tastiness of Pabita’s Nepalese curries.

Tom

Tom studied electronics at Szczecin University in Poland before setting up his own travel business providing tailor-made packages to holiday-makers.

Always a photography enthusiast, Tom joined Fixation in November 2006 and specialises in Nikon’s pro and semi-pro camera models. Biker Tom loves to travel, especially in Asia and is a regular attendee at music gigs. Favourite performers include electronica artists, Jon Hopkins, Moderat and Bonobo. In quieter moments he’ll be found watching US drama series such as Breaking Bad, or reading a cyberpunk novel by William Gibson. He’d probably win the title of “Fixation’s Coolest Dude”.

Jay

Perpetually cheerful and all-round nice guy, Jay studied motor mechanics at Willesden Polytechnic before becoming a mechanical engineer at a machinery factory in 1978. In 1985 he joined Olympus as a repairer and in 1987 moved to Pentax where he happened to work alongside our own Navin Ranpura. Following a stint at Orion Photographic, Jay joined Fixation in July 1994, making him the second longest serving member of staff. Aside from family, Jay’s big love is cricket. Once an all-rounder, but now predominantly a batsman, Jay plays for Bharat CC in the Wembley area of Middlesex. He also values the sense of community and volunteers as a helper at events such as a 10-day Indian festival and summer BBQs that cater for 800 people. Jay also enjoys Eastenders and has fond memories of watching Crossroads in its heyday. Perhaps this is what gave him the incentive to fix broken things.

John-Jay

Possibly the quietest person at Fixation, no-one would be surprised to know that John-Jay is a keen chess player in his spare time, but even close colleagues may raise an eyebrow when they learn that John-Jay rocks out to the likes of Aerosmith and Bon Jovi in the privacy of his own shower. After studying electronics at Zamboanga University in his native Philipines, John worked with robotics and machine manufacturing for a company called Greatech Philipines Inc. before working as a programmer and wirer for companies such as Motorola, Samsung and intel. Chelsea fan John joined Fixation in October 2008 and repairs Nikon entry and mid-range cameras and their range of flashguns. He tries to return to the Philipines as often as he can, in fact life is a Bed of Roses if he’s able to do this every year.

You can read part 1 of the Nikon technicians feature here.

Our Nikon technicians are a dedicated team of specialists and can turn their hands to almost any repairs on bodies, lenses and speedlights.

Yusuf

Yusuf’s interest in computers and electronics began at an early age and he unofficially ran his school’s IT department.  He completed his degree in Computer Aided Design in 1996 and became a Field Engineer, later QA engineer, for Bromcom computers.  In 1999 he joined Motorola GSM Systems as a De-bug Engineer and in 2001 joined Alcatel Submarine Networks, working on their under-water fibre-optics.  He joined Fixation in 2002 and until 2016 performed our IT support as well as carrying out repairs.  These days he repairs Nikon film scanners and Quantum products, as well as Nikon’s mid-range and semi-pro bodies and lenses.  In keeps his hand in with computers by volunteering as IT Consultant at his local library.  Yusuf has a reputation within Fixation for enjoying his food, although his diet is going well.  He’s a fan of Stephen Hawking, whose theories he finds fascinating and his guilty pleasure is any film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Noz

Chocoholic Noz joined Fixation as a trainee in March 2002 and the first camera he ever repaired was a Nikon FM2.  Two years later he had progressed to repairing Pro digital products like the D1 and D2 series and he remains the go-to technician for Nikon’s flagship cameras like the D4 and D5.  He rivals Melanie as a contender for Fixation’s loudest sneezer (please guys, it’s NOT a competition!) and as well watching his beloved Arsenal, he enjoys F1, running and cycling. In fact, he has completed the annual London to Brighton 55 mile bike ride three times with a pretty impressive PB of 2 hours 43 minutes.  It’s certainly one way to burn off all that chocolate.

Chris

Chelsea fan Chris was originally employed by Melanie in 2002 when she supervised the Customer Support team at Nikon UK.  But having always had an interest in how things work, when an opportunity came up to join Nikon’s workshop as a trainee in 2005, Chris swapped the telephone for screwdrivers and soldering irons and hasn’t looked back.  He joined Fixation in May 2012 and continues to repair Nikon pro and semi-pro cameras and lenses.  Chris has a strong interest in history, particularly the engineering feats of the industrial revolution.  But if you want to chill with Chris, don’t suggest a night in watching Game of Thrones – he’s very resolutely not a fan!

Joy

When Joy left college in 1982 she knew that pen-pushing was not for her and was determined to find a manual or technical career that suited her.  A visit to The Job Centre introduced her to the Government’s Youth Opportunities Program, specifically a chance to train as a technician at Luton camera Repairs where she remained for years repairing multiple major brands.

She joined Fixation in November 2011 and specialises in the repair of Nikon lenses.  As well as being dextrous, she’s green-fingered, plays tennis and keeps chickens.  She currently has two named Ginger and Sooty, both apparently eggcellent layers!